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Disaster Preparation and Recovery Information

The State Archives serves as a source for information for disaster planning and recovery procedures. Information on the removal, repair and storage of archival documents and permanent records from state and local government offices with damage from disasters, as well as disposal procedures for non-permanent records that have been damaged, can be obtained by contacting our office.

To Report a Disaster

State and local agencies in Louisiana are required to report damage to the Secretary of State's Office under Louisiana R.S. 44:411. These forms can be used to comply with this requirement and to document the type of damage. When conditions permit, they can be returned to the Secretary of State's Office via the methods listed on the form.

For immediate assistance, you may reach the Records Management program by phoning 255.922.3094 or by sending a message.

Disaster Recovery Resources

Following the devastating hurricanes Louisiana has endured over the years, many professional organizations offered assistance. Some of these organizations gave permission to use some of their technical publications on salvaging records and materials on our site for agencies to use in case of emergencies. Agencies are strongly encouraged to follow up with the contacts listed above to ensure compliance with reporting and other issues that may not be addressed in these guides.

Thanks to the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) for providing these documents: 

Thanks to ARMA International for providing these documents:

From ANSI/ARMA 5-2003 Standard - Vital Records Programs, "Identifying, Managing, and Recovering Business-Critical Records"